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Detroit Medical Center is seeking patients who have been diagnosed with heart failure to participate in a clinical study to treat their condition through nerve stimulation in the neck.

"A growing body of researching is demonstrating that there is a connection between the heart and brain which could benefit heart failure patients," says Dr. Randy Lieberman who is leading the study at Detroit Medical Center."This is a new device that is the first to treat the heart through nerve stimulation, a completely new mechanism of action."

Detroit Medical Center is participating in the INOVATE-HF clinical trial, a global investigational study to determine the overall effectiveness of the CardioFit® system for treating heart failure. CardioFit® is an implanted electrical device designed to improve heart function in patients with heart failure. It works by stimulating specific nerves that help regulate and reduce stress on the heart, easing heart failure symptoms and reversing deterioration.

The device is implanted under the skin of the chest and attached to the heart, like a pacemaker. It is also connected to a nerve in the neck. Electrical pulses from the device are sent to the nerve, which sends signals to the heart. The device is programmed by the patient’s physician through a wireless connection, as is done with pacemakers.

"This is a very exciting new area in heart health," said Dr. Lieberman. "The safety and performance of CardioFit has already been validated, the INOVATE-HF is allowing physicians to investigate its potential benefits among a larger and diverse group of patients."

For more information, or for evaluation as a possible candidate to take part in the study, please call Heart Failure Clinical Trials at 313-745-7014.